Maurice w



(No Model.)

M. W. WHITE.

VIOLIN.

No. 350,962. Patented Oct. 19, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE W. 'WHITE, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF OXE-HALF TO GEORGE \V. ROSS, OF SAME PLACE.

VIOLIN.

SPEECIFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,962, dated October 19, 1886.

Application filed November 9, 1885. Serial No. 182,189. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, llIAURIOE \V. XVHITE, of Somerville, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have in vented an Improvement in Stringed Instruments, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to improve the construction of stringed instruments, whereby the cord by means of which the tailpiece is connected with the usual peg is free from contact with the face of the instrument, thereby permitting the face to vibrate its full capacity nnsubdued by the contact of the cord, which usually is drawn taut and directly over the edge of the face of the instrument; also to providea stringed instrument ofthe class upon which chin-rests are employed with an improved chinrest which is so constructed as to be entirely free from contact with the face of the instrument, and when employed also al* lows the face of the instrument to vibrate its full capacity, thereby enhancing the quality and fullness of the tone.

The invention consists in the combination, with the body of a stringed instrument, the tail-piece,and cord by means of which the tailpiece is attached to the said body, of a peg to which the said cord is attached, and an interposed projection or shoulder rising therefrom, over which the cord passes and upon which it bears when drawn taut, thereby freeing the face of the instrument from contact with the cord; also, in the combinatiomwith the body of a stringed instrument, its tailpiece, and cord, of a peg and an interposedprojection or shoulder rising therefrom, over which the cord passes and upon which it bears when drawn rant, and a chin rest or support secured to the said projection or shoulder, thereby preventing either the cord or chin rest or support from coming in contact with the face of the instrument; also, in the combination, with the body of a stringed instrument, its tail-piece, and cord, of a peg having a squared shank and an interposed projection or shoulder rising there from, over and upon which the cord bears, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 represents a front view of the vio lin with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2, a side view thereof; Fig. 8, an end view; and Fig. 4, a perspective detail showing the peg, projection or shoulder rising therefrom, and the chin-rest.

The body A, having the face A, the neck B, finger-board B, and head Bflare all as usual, forming component parts of a violin, to which instrument my invention is herein shown as applied.

The instrument is also supplied with any suitable strings, O, passing over a bridge, 0, connected with the tailpiece 0 To the lower end of the body of the instrument, in place of the usual peg, a novel peg, to be herein described, is employed, whereby the cord a, which connects the tailpiece to the peg, is retained free from contact with the face A of the instrument.

Referring to Fig. 4., the peg having the head 0 is provided with a squared shank, c, to prevent its rotation when inserted into the body ofthe instrument. The cord a is looped around the head 0, and its free ends are passed through slots 0 cflcut into an interposed projection or shoulder, D, rising from the peg near its head. The free ends of the cord. a are then connected with the tail-piece C in the usual manner. The interposed projection D serves as a bearing for the cord (4, and is of sufficient height to bring the cord a entirely free from contact with the face A of the instrument. 5y this device the face A of the instrument is permitted to vibrate its full capacity, as it is ob vious from the old construction, wherein the cord (6 was drawn taut over the edge of the face A, the vibrations of the said face were subdued, and, furthermore, the said cord a, when bearing over the edge of the face A,in the usual manner, subdued the vibrations of the face A in a direetline taken lengthwise of the said face beneath the bridge, or, in other words, checked the transmission of the vibrations of the essential vibrating portion of the face A.

The device so far described for preventing the cord (I, from coming in contact with the face A is equally as well applicable to other stringed instruments.

A chin rest or support, E, of any suitable vent the rest or support E from coming in conshape and material desired, is secured to or made integral with the projection 1), which projection is of sufiicient height to thereby pretact with the face A of the instrument, and thereby obviating the employment of any suitable fastenings which may be employed to fit a chin-rest to the body of an instrument, the said fastenings bearing usually upon both the face and back, which thereby subdues the vibration of the instrument.

In some instances, should it be only desired to use the chin-rest E occasionally, it may be arranged and constructed to be secured to the projection or shoulder in any adjustable manner, so that it may be readily removed.

I claim- 1. The combination, with the body of a stringed instrument, the tail-piece, and cord by means of which the tail-piece is attached to the said body, of a peg entering the body of the instrument, to which the said cord is attached, and an interposed projection or shoulder rising substantially at right angles therefrom, over which the cord passes and upon which it bears when drawn taut, the said projectionor shoulder being of sufficient height to free the face of the instrument from contact with the cord, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the body of a stringed instrument, its tail-piece and cord, of a peg and an interposed projection or shoulder rising therefrom, over which the cord passes and upon which it bears when drawn taut, and a chin rest or support secured to the said projection or shoulder, thereby preventing either the cord or chin rest or support from coming in contact with the face of the instrument, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the body of a stringed instrument, its tail-piece and cord, of a peg having a squared shank, and an interposed projection or shoulder rising therefrom,over and upon which the cord bears, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAURICE \V. YVHITE.

XVitnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, B. J. NoYEs. 

